Maternal glucose levels after dexamethasone for fetal lung development in twin vs singleton pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
Betamethasone administration in singleton pregnancies causes maternal hyperglycemia. With the increased risk of glucose intolerance in twin pregnancies, we sought to determine whether maternal hyperglycemia after dexamethasone administration is different in twin vs singleton pregnancies.


METHODS
Patients with singleton or twin pregnancies admitted between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation with diagnoses requiring steroid administration were approached. Exclusion criteria included diabetes, abnormal glucose tolerance test, infection, or medications known to interfere with glucose metabolism. Patients were NPO for 24 hours and received dexamethasone per protocol. Maternal glucose levels were checked at baseline and then at specified intervals after the initial dose; appropriate statistical analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Ten singleton and 9 twin gestations were enrolled. There were no differences in mean maternal or gestational ages. Mean glucose levels were significantly higher in the twin group at 4 hours (114 mg/dL vs 95.6 mg/dL), 8 hours (121.4 mg/dL vs 90.9 mg/dL), and 24 hours (116 mg/dL vs 81 mg/dL) (P < .01 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
Twin pregnancies had higher mean glucose values than singleton pregnancies in the first 24 hours after dexamethasone administration.
Foglia
Lisa M
LM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA.
Deering
Shad H
SH
Lim
Elaine
E
Landy
Helain
H
D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone